• Toxicological Research
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.147-157
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• 2009

This study was conducted to obtain acute information of the oral dose toxicity of lyophilized water extract of Pinelliae Rhizoma, a dried tuber of Pinellia ternata (PR) in male and female mice. In order to calculated 50% lethal dose (LD$_{50}$) and approximate lethal dose (ALD), test material was once orally administered to male and female ICR mice at dose levels of 2000, 1000, 500, 250, 125 and 0 (vehicle control) ml/kg (body weight). The mortality and changes in body weight, clinical signs, gross observation, organ weight and histopathology of principle organs were monitored 14 days after treatment with PR extract. We could not find any mortalities, clinical signs, changes in the body and organ weights, gross and histopathological findings except for dose-dependent increases in the hepatic fatty change frequencies detected in PR extract 2000 and 1000mg/kg treated in both male and female mice. The results obtained in this study suggest that LD$_{50}$ and approximate LD in mice after single oral dose of PR extracts were considered over 2000 mg/kg in both and female male mice, but more than 1000mg/kg of PR extracts treatment could induce slight hepatotoxicity the fatty changes in mice.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.36-51
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• 2008

Objective : This study investigated the effects of PR(Pinelliae Rhizoma) on gene expression of lung tissue resected from asthma induced mice using intra-nasal instillation. Methods : Gene expression levels were measured using a microarray technique, and a functional analysis on these genes was conducted. Results : A total of 3270 genes were up-regulated or down-regulated, 860 genes which were lowered by induction of asthma were restored to those of naive animals, Furthermore hand, 1235 genes were lowered to normal levels, which were elevated by induction of asthma. Most of changed genes were involved in signalling pathways. Genes in which expression levels were restored by oral administration of PR were involved in MAPK pathway, focal adhesion, and regulation of actin cytoskeleton etc. Genes of which expression levels were lowered by oral administration of PR were involved in rhodopsin-like receptor activity, zinc ion binding and ATP binding. These genes were also involved in neuroactive ligand receptor interaction, the JAK-STAT signaling pathway and also the T-cell receptor signaling pathway. Conclusion : These results demonstrate the strong possibility that the mechanisms of PR on asthma are involved in neuroactive ligand receptor interaction pathway or related molecules.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.156-168
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• 2005

Objective : The purpose of this research is to examine the effects of Pinelliae Rhizoma (PR) extract on immune cells and cytokines in ovalbumin (OVA)-induced asthmatic mice. Methods : In vivo, C57BL/6 mice were sensitized and handicapped by OVA for 12 weeks. During this experiment, the one group was then treated with PR extract for the 8 weeks (3 times per week) and analyzed by ELISA and flow cytometer. Results : In vivo, there were significant decreases in eosinophils, IL-4, IL-5, IL-13, IgE in BALF (bronchoalveolar lavage fluid) compared with that of control group. However, $IFN-{\gamma}$ in BALF of GS group increased significantly, compared with that of control group. Additionally, the population of $CD3e^-/CCR3^+,\;CD69^+/CD3e^+,\;IgE^+/B220^+,\;CD11b^+/Gr-l^+$ cells in the PR group decreased, compared with that of control group. Conclusion : The results of this study support a role for PR as an effective treatment for asthma in its experimental success in significantly decreasing inflammation and asthma reactions, and in increasing $IFN-{\gamma}$, which helps prevent such reactions.

• Korean Journal of Oriental Medicine
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.99-105
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• 2009

In this research, the genotoxic effects of Pinelliae Rhizoma (PR) extracts, one of famous herbal agents in Korean medicine were evaluated using the mouse micronucleus test. PR extracts was administered once a day for 2 continuous days by oral gavage to male ICR mice at doses of 2000, 1000, and 500 mg/kg. Cyclophosphamide was used as a known genotoxic agent in a positive control. The appearance of a micronucleus is used as an index for genotoxic potential. No PR extracts treatment-related abnormal clinical signs, body weight changes and mortalities were detected. Significant (p<0.01) increases of the numbers of polychromatic erythrocytes contain micronucleus in prepared bone marrow cells were detected in CPA and PR extracts 2000 mg/kg treated groups as compared with intact control, respectively. The results of intraperitoneal dose mouse bone marrow cell micronucleus test of PR extracts were positive in the present study. It is considered that there were no problems from cytotoxicity of PR extracts tested in this study because the polychromatic erythrocyte ratio was detected as > 0.42 in all tested groups.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.598-606
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• 2009

Oxidative stress by free radicals is a major cause of neuronal cell death. Excitotoxicity in hypoxia/ischemia causes an increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS) and a loss of mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), resulting in dysfunction of the mitochondria and cell death. Pinelliae Rhizoma (PR) is a traditional medicine for incipient stroke. We investigated the effects of PR Water-Extract on the modulation of ROS and MMP in a hypoxic model using cultured rat cortical cells. PR Water-Extract was added to the culture medium at various concentrations (0.25${\sim}$5, 5.0 ${\mu}g/ml$) on day in vitro 12(DIV12), given a hypoxic shock (2% $O_2$/5% $CO_2$, $37^{\circ}C$, 3 hr), and cell viability was assessed on DIV15 by Lactate Dehydrogenase Assay (LDH assays). PR Water-Extract showed a statistically significant effect on neuroprotection (10${\sim}$15% increase in viability; p<0.01) at 1.0 and 2.5 ${\mu}g/ml$ in normoxia and hypoxia. Measurement of ROS production by $H_2DCF-DA$ stainings showed that PR Water-Extract efficiently reduced the number and intensity of ROS-producing neurons, especially at 1 hr post shock and DIV15. When MMP was measured by JC-1 stainings, PR Water-Extract efficiently maintained high-energy charged mitochondria. These results indicate that PR Water-Extract protects neurons in hypoxia by preventing ROS production and preserving the cellular energy level.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.19 no.7
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• pp.905-916
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• 2009

Pinelliae rhizoma (Pr, 半夏) is a traditional medicine used in the treatment of incipient stroke. We investigated the effects of Pr on gene expression in a hypoxic model using cultured rat cortical cells. Pr (2.5 $\mu$g/ml) was added to the culture medium on DIV 12. A hypoxic shock (2% 0$_2$/5% CO$_2$, 37$^{\circ}$C, 3 hr) was given two days later (on DIV 14), and total mRNAs were isolated at 24 hr post-shock from both Pr-treated samples and untreated control cultures. Microarray using TwinChip $^{TM}$ Rat-5K (Digital Genomics, Seoul) indicated that Pr upregulated genes for cell growth and differentiation (tubb5, tgfa, ptpn11, n-ras, pdgfa) and antiapoptosis (mcl-1), while downregulating the apoptosis-induced gene (tieg). Therefore, it is interpreted that Pr protects neurons from hypxoic shock by maintaining cell growth and differentiation and by preventing apoptosis.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.66-77
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• 2012

Objectives: This study was designed to investigate the effects of PR on ovarian tissue in PCOS rats through measurement of morphological and histo-pathological observations, ovarian size. In addition, effects on expression levels of Insulin like Growth Factor Receptor(IGFR) were also investigated to elucidate related mechanisms. Methods: PCOS was induced by single intermuscular injection with ${\beta}$-Estradiol 17-Valerate(EV) in female rats. Normal group(NOR, n=8) were injected with sesame oil and administrated hard food for five weeks. Control group(CTL, n=8) were injected with EV and administrated hard food for five weeks. CR group(n=8) were injected with EV and administrated hard food mixed CR for five weeks. Then, we measured weights of body and ovary, uptakes of food and water. And we observed morphological and histo-pathological changes of ovary, levels of IGFR. Results: In this experiments, single injection of Estradiol Valerate(EV) induced suppression of weight gain, formation of cysts, increase of IGFR expression. Oral administration of PR prevent decrease of ovarian size significantly. Further more, formation of cystic follicles induced by EV injection is suppressed by PR treatment. Conclusions: These results suggest PR can be used for patients with PCOS to prevent formation of cystic follicles and malfunction of ovary.